Authorities ask firm to recall contaminated food

Update:
November, 17/2015 - 17:05

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Police and inspectors seize and seal all batches of goods found contaminated with a banned chemical substance in Truong Phu Company. — VNA/VNS Photo

HAI DUONG (VNS) — Inspectors of the agriculture and rural development ministry and police yesterday detected the use of banned chemical substances in animal husbandry in the northern Hai Duong Province.

The inspectors discovered a toxic substance in animal feed in Truong Phu Ltd Company. The company used vat yellow and lean-meat agents, which are not allowed in food processing, as they pose a health risk to people.

The inspectors asked the company to recall all products that it supplied to the market and to destroy them.

Vat yellow is an imported substance that is used for dyeing cloth or in the construction sector.

Pham Tien Dung, head of the inspection team, said seven of eight samples of the company's products were contaminated with the banned substances.

Breeders mix vat yellow with animal feed to make chicken look more attractive to traders and customers, Dung said.

The inspectors also discovered several kilograms of vat yellow at the company. The authorities estimated that the company released nearly 300 tonnes of animal feed containing the banned substance in the market.

According to the latest circular of the agriculture ministry, the Truong Phu Company will be fined VND280 million (US$12,700), be forced to suspend production for one month and will have to withdraw all its products from the market. — VNS